Solar hot water system started!
- Thread starter Doc_Bob
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bloody_peasant
Silver Member
Cool! 
How exactly does it work? It is it directly heating the water or does it generate electricity for a heating element? Is there a "power" back up and do you get enough sun in Wisconsin?
How exactly does it work? It is it directly heating the water or does it generate electricity for a heating element? Is there a "power" back up and do you get enough sun in Wisconsin?
3RRL
Super Member
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Doc,
That looks like a good project. I think we're leaning towards solar for our radiant heat too. BTW, who is that old guy on the roof? Is that your Dad? <BG> Ha Ha.
That looks like a good project. I think we're leaning towards solar for our radiant heat too. BTW, who is that old guy on the roof? Is that your Dad? <BG> Ha Ha.
woodlot
Gold Member
very, very cool. More info & follow-ups please! Links?
bloody_peasant said:Cool!
How exactly does it work? It is it directly heating the water or does it generate electricity for a heating element? Is there a "power" back up and do you get enough sun in Wisconsin?
System heats Proplylene glycol (used in food, won't freeze) then goes to the heat exchanger in the basement and heat is transfered to the potable water. More pics soon!
Bob
3RRL said:Doc,
That looks like a good project. I think we're leaning towards solar for our radiant heat too. BTW, who is that old guy on the roof? Is that your Dad? <BG> Ha Ha.
Old guy is friend. I will let him know you think he is old, he won't disagree. Excess heat will be used in radiant heat system for living room with PEX tubing beneath floor between joists.
Bob
bloody_peasant said:Cool!
How exactly does it work? It is it directly heating the water or does it generate electricity for a heating element? Is there a "power" back up and do you get enough sun in Wisconsin?
We get enough sun in Wisonsin. I have a natural gas water heater as back up, the solar system is connected to the gas heater and the solar system provides heated water to the gas water heater. If the solar heated water is warm enough, then the gas water heater does not turn on. The solar water heater does have an electrical element in it, but I do not have it hooked up as electricity is too expensive to heat water.
Bob
woodlot
Gold Member
Sounds like a very simple system. I know very little about solar heating but your plan raises some questions:
Does your circ. pump run continuously? How do you keep the water from getting scaldingly hot?
What about at night and very cloudy days in winter? I'd think the system would act like a big chiller at those times, causing your electric element to kick on, very, very often.
Does your circ. pump run continuously? How do you keep the water from getting scaldingly hot?
What about at night and very cloudy days in winter? I'd think the system would act like a big chiller at those times, causing your electric element to kick on, very, very often.
woodlot said:
woodlot said:
pump runs only when glycol is hot and needs to transfer heat to storage tank.
Storage tank water can approach 160 degrees (just from sun) and there is a "tempering" valve that mixes cold water with hot water. Prevents scalding.
On cold nights, pump does not run, so no cold glycol brought to tank. Also has an antisiphon valve.
Bob
jrm223
New member
I take it the glycol method is more efficient for heating water than using electric solar panels to power the electric element?? Just curious on the reasons for glycol vs. electric... Interesting stuff though.